( fl ?Tudela, Navarre, and/or ?Soria, Old Castile, c. 1300–12). Spanish illuminator of Jewish origin. His signature, a whole-page colophon in zoomorphic characters, is found in only one manuscript, the Lisbon Bible (1299–1300; Lisbon, Bib. N., MS. Il.72; see also JEWISH ART, §V, 1). However, another Bible (1312; Zurich, Floersheim Col., previously MS. Sassoon 82) could also be his work. Since the text of the Lisbon Bible was copied in Cervera, Lleida, it has been generally supposed that Joseph trained in an illuminator’s workshop in that city. However, the connection with Cervera appears to be accidental (Metzger, 1970), while there are demonstrable links with Tudela and Soria, where JOSHUA BEN ABRAHAM IBN GAON and another scribe copied the masorah (apparatus criticus) after May 1300. The decorative painting and penwork were executed in their entirety only after the masorah had been copied (Metzger, ‘Josué ben Abraham ibn Gaon...’, 1990). The confirmed associations between Joseph and Joshua, whose brother Shem tov ben Abraham ibn Gaon of Soria was the copyist of the 1312 Bible, make it highly probable that Joseph was active in both cities. His patronymic, ha-Zarefati [from France], has suggested a possible French influence on his iconography and style; nevertheless his work appears to be characteristically Castilian in all respects. Its rich ornament, variety of motifs, fine draughtsmanship, subtle colouring and masterly technique make Joseph ha-Zarefati one of the most remarkable Spanish illuminators of his time.

• Joseph ha-Zarefati
  • Joshua ben Abraham ibn Gaon